Illuminated pen or pencil



United States Patent 3,004,140 T ILLUMINATED' PEN OR PENCIL Cyril R. Games, 2336 Palolo Ave., Honolulu 16, Hawaii Filed Oct. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 693,470 1 2 Claims. .(Cl. 240'6.46)

This invention relates to an illuminated pen or pencil and more particularly to a pen or pencil which is constructed in such a manner that a considerable amount of illumination is provided on the writing surface when the lamp in the pen or pencil is operated An object of the invention is to provide a practically constructed illuminated pencil or pen which provides a copious area with enough illumination by which to write very easily and plainly. Although there have been illuminated pencils in the past my illuminated pencil is considered to be more practical because of the location of the switch enabling the user to close the switch practically automatically while using the pencil. The switch is so constructed that it automatically opens in response to the release of a light pressure which is all that is required to close the switch.

The light rays from my pen or pencil are directed in such a path of travel that they are practically coincident with the writing end of the writing element of the pen or pencil. Yet, a considerable area adjacent to that which is actually used for writing is illuminated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a writing implement constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of the switch construction and its interposition in the pen or pencil.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

In the accompanying drawing there is a writing implement which maybe either a pencil or a pen with equal facility. With the advent of the popularity of ball point pens and pencils, my illustration is of this type. Accordingly, the writing implement has a hollow casing 12 at one end of which there is a tapered member or nib 14 provided with an elongated passage 16 in which to accommodate a rather slender cartridge 18 that constitutes the writing portion of the implement. Member 14 is tapered toward the end of passage 16 to facilitate gripping the sa-rne. This member is made of Lucite or some other light transmissive plastic material through which light rays can pass for illuminating the surface on which the writing portion is used. Although not essential, it is suggested that there be threads 20 on a reduced part of member 14 and in an open end of the casing 12. These separably connect the member 14 to the casing 12 and thereby permit ready access to the light bulb 22 whose envelope is located in recess 24 that is coaxial with passage 16 and in the inner end of member 14.

One or more, for example two batteries 26 and 28, are removably disposed in the hollow casing 12. Closure 30 is threaded on or in one end of casing 12 and supports spring 32 in a recess 34 of closure 30. The spring bears against battery 28.

An insulating sleeve 42 is fitted within the end of casing 12 and held firmly in place, as by a close fit or by being cemented. Other fastening means may be resorted to as found desirable or necessary. An insulating body 3,004,140 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 ice 2 44.is located in sleeve 42. The body 44 has a socket 46 in one end within which the light bulb 22 is separably disposed. A generally U-shaped conductive strip 48 having ends 50 and 52, is located ina passageway 54'0f body 44. One end 50 of the conductive strip 48 is disposed at .the inner end of socket 46 and comesto bear against thecenter contact of light bulb 22. The other end 52 of the conductive strip 48 is in contact with the center pole 38 of battery 26. There is a relieved part 58 of body 44 within which the end 52 of the conductive strip 48 can flex.

A second conductive strip 60 is passed through an opening in the body 44 and has a terminal part 62 threaded and seated within the threads of socket 46. The part 62 of the contact strip 60 touches the shell of the lamp base. The other end of contact strip 60 is flat and constitutes a contact 66 that is stationary. Movable contact 68 is in the form of a plunger head and is disposed in an aperture 70 formed in a side wall of sleeve 42. Shank 72 is attached to head 68 and has a push button 74 on the outer extremity thereof. Spring 76 seats on the bottom wall 80 of a recess 82 in casing 12 and seats on the push button 74. The bias of spring 76 is in such direction as to keep the switch, constituted by movable contact 68 and fixed contact 66, in the open position. The location of the recess 82 is important. It is close to the writing end of the pen or pencil and is in a position Where it can be depressed by a portion of one of the fingers or by a part of the hand near the fingers when the pencil or pen is in normal writing position. The fact that the push button 74 is flush with the surface of the pencil or very nearly so, is also important, No objectionable protrusions to hang on the clothing when inserted or removed from the pockets, exist.

An electrical circuit is established through the casing 12, the switch and batteries as well as the closure 30 and its spring 32.

It is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the invention. Moreover, various additions, such as the pencil or pen pocket clip 88 may be applied without departing from the scope and comprehension of the following claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An illuminated pen comprising a substantially cylindrical electrically conductive casing, a removable nib of a light conducting material threadedly mounted in one end portion of said casing and having a recess in its inner end portion, a writing cartridge in said nib, a sleeve of insulating material mounted in the casing in end-abutting engagement with said nib and having an opening therein, a generally cylindrical body of insulating material mounted in the sleeve and having a threaded socket in one end portion opening into the recess and further having a recess in its other end portion, a conductor strip mounted longitudinally in the body, a fixed contact on one end of the conductor strip engaged in the socket, a yieldable contact on the other end of the conductor strip operable in the second named recess, batteries in the casing electrically connected to the yieldable contact, an electric lamp mounted in the socket and projecting therefrom into the first named recess, said lamp being electrically connected to the fixed contact, a conductor element in the body electrically connected to the lamp in the socket and extending therefrom into the opening, means electrically connecting the batteries to the casing, and a normally open switch on the casing for electrically connecting said conductor element to said casing for establishing an electrical circuit through the lamp for energizing same.

2. The illuminated pen of claim 1, said casing having a depression in the grip portion thereof and further having an opening therein connecting the depression and the first named opening, said switch comprising a-rnetallic shank slidable in the second named opening, a contact on the inner end of said shank engageable with the conductor element, a push button on the outer 'end of the 5 shank fiush=withthe periphery ofthe casing and operable in the depression by a digit of the writing hand, and a coil spring in the depression encircling the shank and engaged under compression with the push button for yieldingly urging same outwardly for disengaging the 10 last named contact from the conductor element.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Schaifer Feb. 6, Paine Nov. 29, vPatron June 17,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain. July 12, France Nov. 29, 

